Team Canada found to have manipulated competition that cost American shot at Milan Cortina Olympics

Five-time Team USA Olympic skeleton athlete tells Fox News Digital about her battle to get a spot in the upcoming Winter Games after Team Canada withdrew from a recent competition, affecting her ability to earn points for qualification.

An investigation by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) has found that Team Canada manipulated the outcome of the North American Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month. 

Canada's actions denied American Olympian Katie Uhlaender a chance to earn enough points to qualify for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games. 

After Team Canada withdrew four athletes from the North America Cup, it reduced the amount of points the competition could award. The reduction made it mathematically impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough points to qualify. Uhlaender, a five-time Olympian, was hoping to qualify for her sixth Winter Games, but lost the chance before competition even began in Lake Placid due to Canada's withdrawals. 

The IBSF has now found that "the action of the Canadians was intentional and directed to reducing the points available to athletes who slid at the final Lake Placid NAC," it announced in a release obtained by Fox News Digital on Wednesday. 

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Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) originally said the decision to withdraw the athletes was made "after careful evaluation of the program's needs and in consultation with the IBSF" and "careful consideration of athlete health, safety, and long-term development."

"It was determined that continuing to race these athletes was not in their best interests, nor in the best interests of the program," it added.

Team USA skeleton racer Katie Uhlaender was denied a chance